Thoughts on the therapeutic use of narrative in the promotion of coping in cancer care

Abstract

When a life is struck by cancer the very foundations of that life are shaken. The safety of 'everydayness' is replaced with a fear and uncertainty of tomorrow and the human need to make sense of life is the driving force behind coping. After initial diagnosis patients must begin to piece together their lives and build new and stronger foundations. This paper identifies a growing awareness of the role that narratives can play in helping cancer patients cope with their illness. Narratives can be used to objectify and distance oneself from problems in order to gain understanding, establish meaning, develop greater self-knowledge and decrease emotional distress. This review concludes that narratives can help patients cope with their cancer and urges nurses to incorporate the use of narratives into their practice.